Esther’s life hung in the balance as she waited in the inner court for the king’s reaction. She was ready, dressed in the royal robes, and prepared for whatever the outcome. Things appeared to be going her way with his words, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.” (Esther 5:3)
Without pause, at first glance of his queen, the king was offering Esther up to half his kingdom. This was her moment. She had a request, a kingdom-sized appeal, and it appeared that the king was ready to fulfill it even before Esther opened her mouth.
Esther replied, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to a banquet that I have prepared for the king.” (Esther 5:4) What? A banquet? That was her request? It seemed that she had passed up an opportunity. At the banquet, the king questioned Esther a second time, and she answered again with a similar invitation to yet another banquet. And the waiting continued …
Waiting is difficult, and in our often impatient, instantaneous world it doesn’t seem natural. But we learned in this lesson that patience was an integral part of Esther’s plan. She understood the importance of timing and of being ready and strong when the moment was right. She had fasted, planned, donned the royal robes, and then waited for the perfect timing.
What can you learn from Esther’s example of preparation, patience, and being ready when your Esther moment arrives?
“On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, opposite the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne inside the palace opposite the entrance to the palace. As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won his favor and he held out to her the golden scepter that was in his hand.” (Esther 5:1-2)